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Feckin engine management light came on, on the way to Morpeth yesterday so when I got home I spent an hour cleaning all the windows. They were filth internally. Serious though my code reader is in the van which is in for repair and I'm not getting it back till the end of the week. It can't be a serious fault as it still drives spot on and I'm still getting over 50mpg with mixed driving and hoofing.

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As it's a Fiat engine identical to that fitted to Astra Hs and Vectra Cs (even has the same engine cover), I presume the 6 speed gearbox will also be GM. If so, be happy with the 5 speed as 6th gear on those is made of chocolate.

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This went in yesterday for the timing belt, full service and water pump and I asked them to change the thermostat as it never really got up to temperature unless it was in traffic. I left a note on the passenger seat with my phone number asking them to recharge the air con and set the tracking as the steering wheel wasn't quite straight. I put the note on top of the service book and wheel nut key so they'd see it. By 2.30 I'd had no call so went down for a look. The owner said he'd been trying to contact me but there I didn't leave my number. He said it was all done but the thermostat hadn't made a difference so they'd put it on the computer and there was a fault with the wiring and the management light was on. He also said the fan was running all the time. I told him it hadn't done that before so he called the mechanic over who confirmed the fan started straight away when he'd started the car in the morning to move it before starting the work. I said again it's never done that before the mechanic couldn't look me in the eye and denied it again. I started it anyway and it seemed fine (no fans running but the mil on) so I paid up and went on my way. I got home after about half a mile and heard the fan running, strange. It was still running 5 minutes later when I was on the phone to them with the key in my hand. The mechanic was still adamant the fan ran before he started work on it and by this time I told the owner he's a fucking liar and I was beginning to get upset. I just paid £450 for preventative maintenance for a car to be more fucked than when it went in. He' told me it wasn't a problem and to take it straight back and he'll sort it. I couldn't take it back so it's going in Monday.

What would cause this? The rad hoses were freezing cold and the fan was running full tilt with the engine off. Is there a blockage? is the stat opening? will it cook if I use it? The temperature gauge was rock bottom as well which again it's never done before. He said there's a thermostat probe at the back of the engine that they're going to change. I doubt that's the issue though.

This isn't a back street garage btw. It has a numerous ramps, mot centre tyre section etc. I hope it bodes well.